112 



thrown. Now that which is true iu Fiance should also occur in America, and the 

 causes for the failure in the sugar cane must be the same in the two countries. 



There is no doubt of the truth of M. Leplay's ideas in respect of the 

 admixture of sorghum with broom corn, but such an admixture can be 

 avoided, and if this were the only cause of deterioration we would have 

 little to fear. 



Horace Piper l says : 



The natural cross-breeding of different varieties with those of inferior qualities is 

 a very frequent cause of deterioration. This is often observed in gramineous and 

 leguminous and curcubitaceous plants, which are raised annually from their seeds. 

 All the varieties of maize are very liable to deteriorate in this way. Those of the 

 Sorghum saccliaratum intermix so freely that cultivators have found it almost impossi- 

 ble to obtain pure seeds. From the same cause it is extremely difficult to preserve 

 any of the varieties of the melon pure for any considerable time. 



No one can have any security of obtaining pure seeds unless they are planted many 

 rods from all others, and the perfect flowers from which seeds are to be raised are 

 covered with small tents of gauze of sufficient size to inclose each and protect it from 

 insects. The judicious cross-breeding, however, of individuals of the same variety, 

 when taken from a distance, will, as has before been observed, have a tendency to 

 improve it. 



The rapid deterioration of the juice of the cane when cut has been 

 noticed by every one who has had anything to do with sorghum. This 

 deterioration, however, is independent of the natural variations above 

 mentioned. 



The gradual failure of the sucrose in the juice is also noticed when 

 there has been no admixture with broom corn, as pointed out by Mr. 

 Leplay. This has been uninistakedly illustrated at Kio Grande, N. J. 

 The sugar in the amber cane there has been failing since the first until 

 the year 1886, when the juice of this cane from several hundred acres 

 was so poor that no attempt was made to convert it into sugar. 



My own observations on this inconstancy of sorghum have been pub- 

 lished more than once. 



In speaking in a previous publication of the difficulties of successful 

 sugar-making, I said : 2 



A careful study of the foregoing data will not fail to convince every investigator that 

 the manufacture of sugar from sorghum has not yet proved financially successful. 



The men who have put their money in these enterprises seem likely to lose it, and 

 intending investors will carefully consider the facts herein set forth before making 

 final arrangements. The expectations of the earlier advocates of the industry have 

 not been met, and the predictions of enthusiastic prophets have not been verified. It 

 would be unwise and unjust to conceal the fact that the future of the sorghum-sugar 

 industry is somewhat doubtful. In the first place, the difficulties inherent in the 

 plant itself have been constantly undervalued. The success of the industry has been 

 based on the belief of the production of sorghum with high percentages of sucrose and 

 small amounts of reducing sugar and other impurities. 



But the universal experience of practical manufacturers shows that the average 

 constitution of the sorghum-cane is far inferior to that just indicated. Taking the 



! Ann. Report, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 18(57, p. 315. 



2 Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Bull. No. 5, pp. 185, et seq. 



